Date:

December 5, 2005

For More Information Contact:

Randy Hoskins, Traffic Engineer, 441-7711

David Cary, Transportation Planner, 441-6364

A series of public open houses is planned this month to gather opinions on the City’s future transportation needs through the year 2030. The open house meetings are the first step in updating the City’s new Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP).

“Transportation is an important quality of life issue,” said City Traffic Engineer Randy Hoskins. “Our transportation system has a huge impact on the business community, public safety services and neighborhoods. As Lincoln grows and changes, we must take steps to make sure the transportation system is meeting the community’s growing and changing needs.”

The open houses are scheduled for:

• Tuesday, December 6, 5 to 6:30 p.m., Mickle Middle School, 2500 North 67th Street (multipurpose room)
• Wednesday, December 7, 5 to 6:30 p.m., Lakeview Elementary School,300 Capitol Beach Boulevard (multipurpose room)
• Thursday, December 8, 5 to 6:30 p.m., Humann Elementary School, 6720 Rockwood Lane (multipurpose room)
• Tuesday, December 13, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Downtown ActivAge Center, 1005 “O” Street (second floor)
• Wednesday, December 14, 5 to 6:30 p.m., Malone Center, 2032 “U” Street (gym)
• Thursday, December 15, 5 to 6:30 p.m., Scott Middle School, 2200 Pine Lake Road (multipurpose room)

The LRTP is a major component of the Lincoln-Lancaster County Comprehensive Plan, which was adopted in May 2002. Federal regulations require the City to update its LRTP every five years. As part of the Comprehensive Plan, the City-County Planning Commission has given preliminary approval to the City’s “future service limit,” which shows the areas where utility services and future growth will occur in Lincoln through the year 2030.

By 2030, the City of Lincoln is projected to see an additional 500,000 trips on streets every day. Based on a 1.5 percent annual growth rate, the population of the City of Lincoln is projected to increase to 353,000, an increase of 127,000 people.

At the open houses, the public will have the opportunity to comment on the major transportation topics in the Comprehensive Plan: pedestrian facilities; bicycle facilities; public transit; roads and streets; intelligent transportation systems; maintenance; railroads; airports; and goods and freight.

City officials hope those attending will comment specifically on long-term changes they would like to see to bus routes, streets, sidewalks, trails and railroad overpasses. Participants also will be asked to comment on how best to pay for future transportation improvements and changes.

Information gathered from the open houses will be used to develop recommendations to forward to the Planning Commission and to draft the final document. The updates of the Comprehensive Plan and the LRTP are expected to be completed by the end of 2006.

Those needing translation assistance at an open house can contact Transportation Planner David Cary at 441-6364 at least 48 hours before the meeting. For more information on the Comprehensive Plan and the LRTP, see the City-County Web site at lincoln.ne.gov (click on Planning Department) or call Hoskins at 441-7711.